It was soft, but gentle, and rather sad, and Leona wondered at who was playing this morning as she made her way around Sunspire’s docks, pausing in confusion at the Serpent’s Kiss and staring in confusion.
Well… it would make sense someone there played something, and she hopped aboard, waving at one of the guards that knew her as “Captain’s Friend.”
It sounded a little like an ocarina, which she knew Kit played at times, but never seriously, and she looked around the deck before tilting her head and climbing up the mast, following the song until she found the source… not an ocarina, but a pan flute.
She sat down next to Lucierin who shrugged at her, but kept playing for a moment more to finish the song before putting the pipes down.
“I didn’t know you played anything,” Leona said quietly.
“Normally I don’t. I build the birds to sing," Lucierin answered, "I come up here to think… which is hard when Ethi’s bunk is in the crow’s nest up there, but…”she shrugged again, “What are you doing up this early?”
The Captain rolled her eyes, almost regretting she asked.
Leona chewed the inside of her cheek, “Why do you hate the General so much?”
Lucierin started, not expecting a question such as this so early in the morning, her eyes widening as she shook her head, “I don’t,” she said quietly, “Not really. It’s just easy to say it, make people think I hate him. That way they won’t count on me.”
“I don’t want them to. I was lost for a long time kiddo," Lucierin frowned, "Your mother won’t tell you this, and it’s not in any notes, but the blood-phoenixes… we don’t get a lot of time to come to grips with who we are. That’s why the bonding," she shrugged, "Course in Luna’s case it backfired… why she’s not… exactly together," she shook her head, "I was looking for something to feel, and hate was the easiest one.”
“But you had Kit’s memories.”
“I’m impressed, you did your homework.”
Leona shook her head, “I… just remember you mentioning it once or twice. You’re scared of rats like she is too. Remember the knife throwing lessons you gave me.”
“Hey, just cause you were blind doesn’t mean you can’t hear," she ruffled the girl’s hair, "Kit’s memories only gave me more reasons to hate. Really can’t figure how the hell she can forgive anyone so easily. And those monks at the Peak are not as jolly as everyone thinks Pandaren are, one was pretty damn vicious,” she snorted, “And I won’t talk about the orphanage or Azshara.”
“No, I can’t hate the General. Not when there’s a lot worse out there. I… just want to know why I was made sometimes, and then that gets me going into a downward spiral. I’m no hero, not by a long damn shot, I couldn’t even protect her, and… that was my job. Or I thought it was.”
Leona didn’t say anything, just hugged her knees and listened.
“Guess all I really am good for is leading the crew here," Lucierin looked down at her ship, "So if I can’t protect Kit, then I’ll protect them. I don’t mind taking care of the kids here, Teera and Rubes especially.”
“I think Teera’s older than you.”
“Everyone’s older than me," Lucierin snorted, "Unless you count the Nightmare, and I don’t want to.”
“How long were you and Kit there?”
It was a question no one ever really bothered to ask. They just assumed when finding out about Alandrine’s cursed realm that it was only a few years, at the most ten, that they had spent. Kit never talked about it.
Lucierin never did either, very few even guessed that she was in there too, all because she attacked Alandrine to attempt to stop the spell. She stood, looking down at Leona,“Long enough,”she said quietly, ruffling her hair.
“Come on, I’ll see if Xaval has breakfast ready.”
@crimson-wings @sunspireport
